Evidence of meeting #12 for National Defence in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was families.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
I'd appreciate it if you would do that and table it with the clerk.
12:45 p.m.
Col Gerry Blais
Absolutely.
On staffing shortages, when you mentioned the medical health service providers, they don't work for me, they work for the surgeon general. Again, unfortunately, we will have to take that question under advisement to get those numbers for you.
As far as staffing of the JPSU is concerned, when the problem was announced in the media back in July, at that point we were basically at an apex of a number of policies that were implemented at the same time. What the policy was before for reservists hired in the unit was that you could receive your superannuation pension that you received as a regular forces person, become a reservist, and work as a reservist and continue to draw that pension. That policy was changed. As a result, a number of people decided that they didn't want to work under those conditions. There was a shortage for a time. We've received exemptions to that policy to a certain degree so that we've been able to backfill those positions. We've also got ongoing competitions to fill the few military positions. If I remember correctly, there are only about 10 in the entire unit that are vacant at the moment.
As far as civilian staff are concerned, again, there were hiring freezes in place. We did receive authority from the deputy minister. The freeze does not apply to the JPSU, so as soon as we have vacancies we can run competitions to fill them.
Now, at the moment, we've got about 25 vacancies, both military and civilian combined, but that's just through the normal flow of things. When someone leaves, we still have to follow competitive processes to hire, so there's a little bit of lag on that. But we don't have an issue in hiring. As I said, there are a number of studies ongoing to see what the optimum number of service providers is. It's being followed very closely. I know that the chief of personnel personally holds this to heart and has assured us that we're going to get the people we need to do the job.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Peter Kent
Thank you, Colonel.
That ends the third round. As chair, I will exercise my prerogative to ask a couple of follow-up questions before we conclude the meeting.
Colonel Blais, with regard to the questions just now from Ms. Murray on the number of civilian positions filled since the hiring freeze was lifted, can you tell us how many of these are mental health care professionals?
12:50 p.m.
Col Gerry Blais
No, I cannot because the mental health care professionals work for the surgeon general.
12:50 p.m.
Col Gerry Blais
He would be in a position—
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Peter Kent
—with the chief of military personnel, we'll ask the question.
With regard to civilians as clerks and receptionists, admin positions within the JPSU—
12:50 p.m.
Col Gerry Blais
There are also service providers because the JPSU, the military staff, exercise the leadership function because that's what soldiers know. When they go to the unit, you still want to have that chain of command, you're comfortable with that, you know that. But all the programs and services are provided by our civilian cadre. In those positions we currently have, if I remember correctly, approximately eight vacancies, but all the positions are being competed for and should be filled shortly.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Peter Kent
When we visited Petawawa late last year, there were comments from some military personnel and their families that civilian mental health care workers sometimes lacked the experience of the traumas that the troops would have experienced.
Is there an effort within the JPSU to somehow provide either military mental health specialists, and I know there are shortages in those areas, or to provide more consistent civilian mental health specialists in these very sensitive areas within the JPSUs?
12:50 p.m.
Col Gerry Blais
Again, unfortunately, the medical care is the surgeon general's responsibility and he is the one who would answer that for you, Mr. Chairman.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Peter Kent
I'm sure we'll pursue that next week.
Finally, Colonel Mann, one of the primary recommendations of the ombudsman was to establish a modern definition of the military family. You've addressed this in a number of ways and from a number of perspectives today.
I'm just wondering what your thoughts are with regard to what the modern definition of the military family might be.
12:50 p.m.
Col Russell Mann
Defining a family is deceptively simple. When we look to the body of legislation in law that surrounds compensation and benefits, insurance and others, everybody seems to have a very specific definition. That's part of the problem the ombudsman encountered. We have a very clear and inclusive definition for the family service program, but we have decided that we would like to lead the charge with that specific recommendation in trying to energize the department to find one definition.
I am particularly taken by the ombudsman's observation on that one, that said the Canadian government has a definition of family. We also note that the Vanier Institute of the Family, a non-profit organization set up to serve all Canadians, has a modern definition of the family, which we believe may apply to the Canadian military family context as much as other Canadians.
We are taking that and we are trying to look at it, but there are more than 12 definitions the ombudsman found. I suspect as we delve into statutes and policies, we may find in fact more. I have committed, sir, to lead the examination of that and to respond to the ombudsman within a year as to what we think is an appropriate definition.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake, MB
No, not a point of order.
I just wanted to thank Colonel Blais and Colonel Mann for coming in, and that we were able to get their full testimony this time without being interrupted by bells.
With that, Mr. Chair, I move that this meeting stand adjourned.